With over 300 community service hours, Ashley Galbreath is described as an overachiever with a caring heart. She not only spends her free time making the community a better place. She also encourages others to help.

"When I give back to my community by doing volunteer work, I feel grateful," Ashley says. "I am thankful to give back to the community that gives so much to me."

Dr. Cinda Kane, dean of students: Ashley is an amazing student. She is secretary for the National Honor Society and has just been recognized by the College Board as a 2016 National Merit Hispanic Scholar. She spends all of her free time proving that she is here to make her community better. She has over 300 community service hours in which she has helped the homeless and their children in Broward County. She volunteered many Saturdays at Kids in Distress tutoring children. She is an advocate of animal rights and dedicates a great deal of her free time to fostering pets that have been abused.

The definition of citizenship is not just to be a part of society, but also to actually be a contributing member by making society a better, safer, more caring place to live. Ashley demonstrates all of these qualities on a daily basis. Ashley is currently collecting food items for the National Honor Society's Harvest Drive in order to create Thanksgiving baskets. In the month of December she will focus on Toys for Tots, collecting toys and donations.

The faculty and staff here are amazed by how many ways Ashley finds to help others. She participates in clubs, maintains a high GPA and still finds time to get the faculty involved in her charitable acts. Last week, she challenged teachers to bring in supplies for the Harvest Drive and we more than exceeded our initial goal.

Ashley is compassionate and caring. She not only does what she says she will do, she also encourages others to do the same. If she has committed to helping 10 people, she will probably help 25. She is an overachiever with an amazing heart.

Monique Galbreath, mother: Ashley has a tendency toward citizenship because she loves to help others and give back to her community. Her volunteer efforts have been extensive, from tutoring to Special Olympic events. She turned her passion for volleyball into a way to give back, coaching 11- to 13-year-old girls at the YMCA. Ashley has also helped foster animals. Recently, she took on four kittens that were severely malnourished and infested with fleas. She nursed the kittens back to health, washed them and applied flea medicine. Two of these four kittens were scared of humans due to some trauma they had suffered in their past. Ashley gently worked with them and, over time, all the kittens became very friendly. All four kittens have been permanently adopted. These examples are just a few of the volunteer efforts in which I have seen Ashley contribute her time, energy and leadership skills. In addition to her desire to give back, she is also very conscientious. She truly enjoys helping others. No matter how busy Ashley is, she will always find time to help someone, or some thing, in need.

Ashley Galbreath: I embody citizenship through my over 300 service hours received through volunteer work for Student Government Association, DECA, NHS, HOSA, Pets in Distress, Animal Aid, Hurricane Volleyball and countless other associations because I have a passion to help others and give back to my community.

For example, I have run school projects such as Suicide Awareness Day, helped raise over $10,000 for Nicklaus Children's Hospital and fostered a dog that was abused by his previous owner.

My desire to touch the lives of those around me motivated me to start and continues to motivate me to exemplify citizenship by serving my community. I started volunteering for the Special Olympics in elementary schools. Additionally, my passion for helping others drives me to give back to my former volleyball team. As a mentor, coach, and math, science, history and English tutor for the 11- to 13-year-old players, I strive to make a difference in each of my teammates lives.

When I contribute my time, energy and leadership skills to my community, my citizenship impacts those around me. I exhibit citizenship daily.